Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-02-17
OLD GIANTS.
Their Enduring Work in the
Crowding World.
Christopher Mondragon, the Spanish Hero
-Doge Dandolo, of Venice--Many Fa-
nous Ones Beyond Three
Score Years and Ten.

score Years ana Zen.
In Motley's "Umted Netherlands"
one Christopher Mondragon, a Spanish
officer, is striking figure among the
military heroes of that stormy period.
In 1895 he was ninety-two years old.
His whole life had been spent in war
fare, more than thirty years of it in the
Netherlands in unwearying efforts,
under his bloody-minded master, Philip
H., to crush out the liberties of the
Low Countries. In 1872, when nearly
seventy years old, he performed feat
which has hardly parallel in the an
nails of war. The town of Tergoes
was situated on an island between two
arms of the river Scheldt, and nearly
ten miles from the mainland. This
space between the island and the MAIN
land was formerly covered with vii
lagos, and swarming with busy pop
ulation. But storm, fercer than ever
known to that region, had, fifty years
before, broken through the dykes and
overwhelmed beneath the oceans
waves fertile fields and thrifty habita-
tions. The sea stood thenceforth
where the dry land had been, and the
part submerged was known by the
name of the Drowned Land"
Tergoes was held by the Spanish, but
the patriot forces were besieging the
town with such numbers and vigor
that it must soon be captured, unless
relief should reach the besieged, and
this their position forbade them to ex-
pect Relief, however, was at hand
through an extraordinary way. Parties
who had tried it itreported to Mondragon
that it was practicable to pass troops
across this drowned district. For
when the tide was out the water be-
tween the mainland and island was
only from four to five feet deep,
though it rose ten feet through the in
coming flood. The bottom of the est
uary was muddy and treacherous. The
hazardous exploit must be performed
by night, and but six hours at longest
could be given to its accomplishment,
for beyond this the rising tide would
overtake and overwhelm all who were
engaged in the enterprise.
The difficulty and peril Of the enter
prise had special charms for Colonel
Mondragon, and he inspired the 5000
picked Spanish troops whom he selected
to accompany him with his own en-
thusiasm. At half ebb tide he plunged
bravely and even gayly into the waves
at the head of his adventurous band
and after foundering and at times
swimming few feet, but still strug
Cling forward, he, at the end of five
hours, before the day dawned, landed
with his entire command, nine persons
excepted, who were drowned in the
transit The beleaguering patriots be
fore Tergoes were aghast at this sud
den apparition of Spanish host rising
as it were, out of the waves. They fled
seized with a panic, in all directions
and the town was effectually relieved
The feat was altogether marvelou'
one, especially as achieved bya veteran
of seventy, and well might Alva, who
however blood-thirsty and remorseless
was yet consummate soldier, charac
terize it as zone of the most brillian
and original achievements in the an
nails of war"
DISTINGUISHED VICTORY.
For twenty-five years longer this in
domitable old man continued in activ,
service in the Netherlands, being il
1896 in command of the citadel of Ant
werp. Hearing that Prince Mauric'
was investing the city of Grol, Mon
dragon determined to relieve it ant
give battle to his young and enterpris
ing adversary. Issuing from his fort
ress, he put himself at the head of sever
or eight thousand troops, hastily col
lected, marched straight across Bra
bant and Gilderland to the Rhine
crossed this river, outgeneraled Mau
rice, whose force he overthrew in
bloody conflict, and, having perfectl
accomplished his object, returned il
triumph to Antwerp. In the admirini
words of Motley: "Alone he ha'
planned his expedition across the coun
try from Antwerp; alone he ha
insisted on crossing the Rhine
while younger soldiers hesitated
alone with his own active brai
and busy hands he had outwitted tn
famous young chieftain of the Neither
lands, counteracted his subtle policy
and set the counter-ambush, by whic
his choicest calvary were cut to piece:
and one of his bravest Generals slain
So far could the icy blood of ninety
two prevail against the vigor of twenty
eight" This year, however, ended tn
old warriors triumphs and labors
whatever kind. For more than thre'
score years "his battle-felds had bee
on land and water. on ice, in fire an
at the bottom of the sea, but he ha
never received a wound" And nov
within three months of his victory ov'